Photocatalyst toothbrush using advanced oxidation process

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) which is configured such that a light source unit  113  such as UV lamps is attached to a photocatalyst reaction unit  114  coated with a photocatalyst such as TiO 2 , superoxide anion and OH radical are generated by a photocatalyst action, and the generated superoxide anion and OH radical are collected and are transferred together with external air to an oral cavity by using an air pump  115 . In this way, organic substances, such as food, viruses, bacteria, plaque, tartar, etc., existing in the oral cavity are decomposed and removed so as to provide a clean oral-cavity state. Since the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is innovative in the generation and transfer configuration of anion and OH radical and has a simple configuration, the manufacturing is easy.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a photocatalyst toothbrush using anadvanced oxidation process (hereinafter, referred to as an AOP), andmore particularly, to a photocatalyst toothbrush which removes anorganic substance in an oral cavity by adding a photocatalyst effectusing a UV lamp and a photocatalyst and particularly has a sterilizingfunction, a whitening function, a plaque removing function, and a badbreath removing function. Further, the present invention also relates toa photocatalyst toothbrush capable of preventing external viruses andbacteria, which can be generated on bristles, through an interlockingoperation with a toothbrush holder, so as to always maintain a cleanstate.

Various eating habits appeared with recent changes of lifestylesinfluence oral health and cause problems such as gum diseases and badbreathe which cause problems in interpersonal relationships, resultingin rising of interest in oral health. These problems result fromincorrect tooth-brushing habits. If neglecting this, plaque and tartarirritate thinned blood vessels in gums, causing inflammations. Mostpeople don't know the seriousness of plaque and tartar and often do nottake measures to prevent such problem. In addition, nasty viruses maycause systematic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, heartdiseases, pneumonia while moving to other tissues and organs of the bodythrough the inflammations.

Attempts to remove plaque and tartar for preventing tooth-decay andperiodontal diseases have been made as long as human history. As oralcare methods, use of toothbrushes and toothpaste is the most general,and various other aids such as interdental brushes and mouth rinses areused.

In general, toothbrushes are classified into general toothbrushes andelectric toothbrushes. A general toothbrush is composed of toothbrushbristles and a toothbrush handle, and a user brushes the teeth whilemoving up, down, left, and right by himself so as to remove plaque,tartar, and food remaining in the mouth. However, if plaque and tartarare not efficiently removed due to incorrect teeth-brushing habits,etc., the plaque and tartar may cause tooth-decay and periodontaldiseases.

Electric toothbrushes have been developed for patients and thehandicapped, and users are continuously increasing because of excellentplaque and tartar removal effects by the electric toothbrushes. However,since electric toothbrushes adapt a rotation manner, there is adisadvantage in which long-term use of electric toothbrushes may causedental attrition. Further, if electric toothbrushes are incorrectlyused, which can continuously irritate dental roots, a problem in thatdental nerves are exposed may occur.

Meanwhile, electric toothbrushes have been transformed from an initialrotating type in which toothbrush bristles rotate in one direction intoa counter-rotating type in which a number of toothbrush bristlesreciprocatingly rotate, on the basis of physically rotation movement.Currently, an oscillation type in which toothbrush bristles rotate leftand right and a combined type in which pulsating movement is added tothe oscillation type are most widely used. Through these changes,development of toothbrushes having additional functions other thanplaque and tartar removal functions while brushing the teeth iscontinuously being conducted.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,215,031, there is disclosed a toothbrush includingbristles driven to rotate, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,620, there isdisclosed a technique of converting the drive force of a rotation motorinto linear reciprocating movement in order to rotate bristles clockwiseand counterclockwise. Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,577,579, there is atoothbrush in which a toothbrush head moves with respect to a brushholder in order for all the bristles mounted on a toothbrush head tomove back and forth with respect to the axis direction of the brushholder. These and other patents propose toothbrushes allowing relativelysimple teeth brushing.

Other patents proposing multi-functional toothbrushes will be describedas followings. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,796,641, there is disclosed a spottingbrush for dry cleaning in which one pair of parallel heads are mountedto rotate. Further, in U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/260,583, there isdisclosed an electric toothbrush that includes two separate, movabletoothbrush bristle sections or tuft blocks and includes a linearoscillating section and a rotating electric section having toothbrushesfor cleaning, polishing, and whitening on both sides of the toothbrushbristle sections or the tuft blocks.

In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/624,780, there is disclosed atoothbrush having a plurality of tuft blocks (tooth cleaning elements),thereby providing advantages such as cleaning, polishing, toothwhitening, and massaging. Further, in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/672,979, there is disclosed an electric toothbrush in which a tissuecleanser is added on a surface of a head opposite to a surface, where atooth cleansing element is disposed, in a toothbrush according to therelated art to clean a tongue, thereby adding a bad breath removingfunction.

Recently, development of ultrasonic wave toothbrushes using sound wavesin electric toothbrush forms based on rotation movement as describedabove has progressed. Ultrasonic wave toothbrushes are an advanced typeof electric toothbrushes, improves plaque and tartar removal efficiencywhile reducing irritation pointed out as the biggest problem of theelectric toothbrushes, and has a large share of market in US, Japan,Europe, etc., as compared to electric toothbrushes. However, even thoughthe ultrasonic wave toothbrushes reduce irritation as compared to theelectric toothbrushes, there is still the inconvenience of use due tounique vibration of ultrasonic waves as a problem to be solved.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,770, there is disclosed a tooth cleaning methodgenerating an ultrasonic wave and sound wave operation during use byusing a continuous ultrasonic mechanical vibration. Further, in U.S.Pat. No. 4,333,197, there is disclosed an ultrasonic toothbrush having athin, long handle member with a hollow housing form in which alow-voltage coil and a cooperating ferrite core driven at an ultrasonicfrequency are disposed. Further, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,991,249 and5,150,492, there are disclosed ultrasonic toothbrushes havingexchangeable toothbrush members attachably and detachably attached toultrasonic electric members.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,624, there is disclosed an ultrasonic toothbrushconverting electronic energy into sound-wave energy, and in U.S. Pat.No. 5,150,492, there is disclosed an ultrasonic toothbrush having anexchangeable ultrasonic implement capable of being attachably anddetachably mounted to an ultrasonic power unit included in a toothbrushhandle. Further, in U.S. Patent Application No. 60/517,638, there isdisclosed an ultrasonic toothbrush which includes an ultrasonicconverter and an acoustic waveguide as components, transmits a soundwave, and induces micro-bubbles, thereby facilitating removal of plaqueand tartar from teeth.

And, currently, development of toothbrushes that use ultraviolet raysand photocatalysts for eliminating viruses and bacteria includingStreptococcus mutans bacteria in an oral cavity and have similar effectsas those of a photocatalyst toothbrush proposed in the present inventionhave progressed. However, among current techniques, a method of directlyirradiating an ultraviolet ray may seriously damage skin in an oralcavity, and an indirect irradiation method through toothbrush bristlescoated with a photocatalyst has a technical limit in which its effect ispoor and has never a huge impact on sterilizing power.

In U.S. Patent Application No. 60/449,188, there is disclosed an oralphototherapy apparatus including one or more radiation emitters forirradiating phototherapeutic radiation onto a part of an oral cavity,and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/252,876, there is disclosed atoothbrush in which a light emitting diode having a wavelength of 420 nmto 480 nm is mounted on a toothbrush head. Further, in U.S. Pat. No.6,094,767, there is disclosed a toothbrush which has a cleaning effectby having an ultraviolet ray as a light source and using toothbrushbristles including a photocatalyst.

Meanwhile, since a condition under which external viruses and bacteriaeasily breed on toothbrush bristles is formed in keeping toothbrushes,many people separately buy and use toothbrush sterilizers to preventcontamination under the above condition.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,770, there is a technique for sterilizingtoothbrushes by using a UV lamp of 200 nm to 300 nm. That is, thistechnique is configured to sterilize bristles of toothbrushes bydisposing the UV lamp inside a housing coated with aluminum. Further, inU.S. Pat. No. 5,126,572, there is a toothbrush sterilizer which has atimer and sterilizes toothbrushes by using an ultraviolet ray and abattery.

Furthermore, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,251, there is disclosed a toothbrushsterilizer of a form drying toothbrushes by using an ultraviolet ray asa heat source, not as a light source, and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,603,there is disclosed a toothbrush sterilizer of a type in which a UV lampis attached inside a cylindrical body, a timer is provided, andtoothbrushes are hung with bristles downward.

The term ‘photocatalyst’ is very widely used; however, the exactdefinition thereof is used to designate a catalyst accelerating aphotoreaction. The photocatalyst represented by titanium dioxide (TiO2)is a semiconductor substance and converts light energy into chemicalenergy by electric transfer of excited conduction band electrons andvalence band holes, generated by receiving light, at an interface. Theelectrons excited by light energy and holes have very strong reducingpower and oxidizing power and combine with oxygen or moisture in thevicinity of the photocatalyst to form superoxide anion, OH radical, etc.The superoxide anion or OH radical has much stronger oxidizing powerthan chlorine, hypochlorous acid, peroxide, ozone, etc. is widely usedfor disinfection or sterilization and thus has excellent effects indecomposition of organic contaminants, deodorization, inhibiting microbegrowth, etc.

In particular, the core of the oxidizing power of the photocatalysteffects is that, since the OH radical is generated, many photocatalystoxidation reactions start by reacting with the OH radical rather thandirectly reacting with the holes. The oxidizing power of the OH radicalis very strong and it is known that a chemical substance having strongeroxidizing power than the OH radical is only F radical. Since the OHradical reacts with a contaminant to form H₂O, the OH radical can be themost eco-friendly oxidizing agent.

The OH radical may be generated by various physicochemical methods otherthan the photocatalyst reaction, and an effective OH-radical generatingmethod can be applied as a useful technique. An AOP uses UV lamps havingwavelengths of 254 nm and 184 nm and generates a large amount of OHradicals in a photolysis process through combination with oxygen in theair, and the degree of activity is increased through a photocatalystreaction, resulting in excellent oxidizing power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide aphotocatalyst toothbrush having advantages capable of being used in thesame way as general toothbrushes, preventing tooth wear, unlike electrictoothbrushes, being simply used without a vibration phenomenon duringuse, unlike ultrasonic toothbrushes, and having a sterilizing effect, aplaque removal effect, a whitening effect, and a bad-breath removaleffect by using a photocatalyst such as ZnO, CdS, WO₃, SnO₃, ZrO₂, Cu₂O,CdSe, and TiO₂, and the sun's light, black light, a fluorescent lamp, anLED lamp, a UV lamp, etc., serving as a light source, and adding aphotocatalyst effect and an AOP to innovatively compensate partial andinefficient sterilizing power of existing photocatalyst toothbrushes.

Further, the present invention has been made in an effort to provide aphotocatalyst toothbrush having advantages capable of always maintaininga clean state by hanging the toothbrush in a toothbrush holder, capableof just holding the head part of the photocatalyst toothbrush, with thehead part of the photocatalyst toothbrush downward and sterilizingtoothbrush bristles and the inside of the toothbrush holder by operatingthe photocatalyst toothbrush during a predetermined time period.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides aphotocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process)including a head part having a brush used to brush a user's teeth, thehead part including an air transfer unit for discharging airflowreceived by the head part to the outside of the toothbrush. Thetoothbrush also includes a toothbrush body connected to the head part.The toothbrush body is capable of providing airflow to the head part andhas an internal cavity defined by an external structure which a user canhold for brushing teeth. The toothbrush body includes an air inflowopening formed on one side of the toothbrush body to be connected to theinternal cavity, as well as a battery provided in the internal cavityfor supplying power. A light source unit is also include for receivingpower from the battery, and for generating a first light ray having afirst wavelength within a sterilization wavelength range and a secondlight ray of a second wavelength within an ozone generating wavelengthrange. The toothbrush body also houses a photocatalyst reaction unit atleast partially surrounding the light source unit and having a surfacecoated with a photocatalyst, where the photocatalyst reaction unitgenerates superoxide anion and OH radicals when said first and secondlight rays contact the photocatalyst. The toothbrush body also includesan air transfer member for transferring to the head part of thetoothbrush the superoxide anion and OH radicals generated in thephotocatalyst reaction unit together with external airflow from theexternal inflow air opening.

In the photocatalyst toothbrush, the air transfer member may be an airpump or may include a motor and an impeller.

Further, the head part may be attachable to and detachable from theupper end part of the toothbrush body.

The air transfer unit may include an air flow path formed along theinside of the air transfer unit, and a plurality of air dischargeopenings connected to the outside at an end of the air flow path.Meanwhile, the air inflow opening may be formed in a lower end part ofthe toothbrush body.

Further, an air flow line through which air flows from a lower end partto an upper end part the toothbrush body may be formed inside thetoothbrush body, and the air flow line may be connected to the air flowpath.

The photocatalyst coated on the photocatalyst reaction unit may be anyone of ZnO, CdS, WO₃, SnO₃, ZrO₂, Cu₂O, CdSe, or TiO₂, and the lightsource unit may be any one of the sun's light, black light, afluorescent lamp, an LED lamp, or a UV lamp.

Further, the wavelength range for the sterilization function may be anultraviolet wavelength range, and more particularly 254 nm. Furthermore,the wavelength range for generating the ozone may be 184 nm.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a largeamount of superoxide anion and OH radical are generated, and thegenerated superoxide anion and OH radical are transferred into an oralcavity and functions to decompose and remove organic substances, such asfood, viruses, bacteria, tartar, etc., existing in the oral cavity.Meanwhile, since these processes are performed while brushing the teeth,it is possible to solve the problems of existing general toothbrushesand electric toothbrushes such as poor plaque and tartar removal effectand provision of causes of periodontal diseases according to toothwaste, and ensure a clean and healthy oral-cavity state.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, the photocatalyst toothbrush is mounted in a toothbrushholder, capable of just holding the head part of the photocatalysttoothbrush, with the head part of the photocatalyst toothbrush downward,and then the photocatalyst toothbrush is operated during a predeterminedtime period, whereby the generated superoxide anion and OH radicalprevent contamination by external viruses or bacteria capable of actingon the inside of the toothbrush holder and the toothbrush bristles,which makes it possible the functions of a toothbrush sterilizer alwaysmaintaining clearness. Therefore, the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention has an advantage in which effort and cost foradditionally buying a toothbrush sterilizer do not occur.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of aphotocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process)according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken by cutting the photocatalysttoothbrush shown in FIG. 1 in a longitudinal direction;

FIG. 3 is schematic view illustrating modified form of the photocatalysttoothbrush according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a toothbrush holder for holdingthe photocatalyst toothbrush shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a photograph illustrating results of experiments on organicsubstance removal capability using a dye with respect to an experimentalgroup according to an experimental example of the present invention anda control group.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scaleand that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols,phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. Incertain instances, details which are not necessary for an understandingof the present invention or which render other details difficult toperceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, thatthe invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodimentsillustrated herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidationprocess) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionwill be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a photocatalyst toothbrush 100 using an AOP(advanced oxidation process) according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention includes a toothbrush body 110 having an externalstructure which a user can hold for brushing the teeth and an insidecontaining space, and a head part 120 exchangeably joined with an upperpart of the toothbrush body 110 and having a brush used to brush theteeth.

The toothbrush body 110 may have any form as long as a user canconveniently hold it, and is configured to have the containing spaceinside. Inside the toothbrush body 110, a battery 111, a circuit unit112, a light source unit 113, a photocatalyst reaction unit 114, and anair pump 115 are sequentially disposed from the lower end part of thetoothbrush body 110. Outside the toothbrush body 110, an operationswitch 116 is provided.

Here, the battery 111 functions to supply power, and the circuit unit112, in which a micro computer and an inverter for converting a powersupply are designed, functions to control the light source unit 113 andthe air pump 115. The light source unit 113 functions to receive powersupply of the battery 111, generate a ray of a wavelength range forsterilization and a ray of a wavelength range for generating ozone, andirradiate the rays onto the photocatalyst reaction unit 114. Thephotocatalyst reaction unit 114 functions to generate superoxide anionand OH radical by the ray of the wavelength range for sterilization andthe ray of the wavelength range for generating ozone irradiated from thelight source unit 113. That is, the photocatalyst reaction unit 114 isdisposed to locate around the light source unit 113, has a surfacecoated with a photocatalyst, and generates the superoxide anion and theOH radical by the ray of the wavelength range for sterilization and theray of the wavelength range for generating ozone. Here, the wavelengthrange for sterilization may be an ultraviolet wavelength range, and inparticular, 254 nm. Further, the wavelength range for generating ozonemay be 184 nm.

The air pump 115 functions to transfer the superoxide anion and the OHradical generated by the photocatalyst reaction unit 114 together withexternal inflow air to the head part 120. The operation switch 116electrically connects the battery 111, the circuit unit 112, the lightsource unit 113, and the air pump 115 if a user pushes the operationswitch 116 once, interrupts the electrical connections between thebattery 111, the circuit unit 112, the light source unit 113, and theair pump 115 if the user pushes the operation switch 116 once more, andmay be a well-known touch-type operation switch.

Meanwhile, the lower end part of the toothbrush body 110 is configuredto have an air inflow opening 117 connected to the inside containingspace. Further, inside the toothbrush body 110, an air flow line throughwhich air flows from the lower end part to the upper end part is formedeven though the above-mentioned components are arranged inside thetoothbrush body 110. Therefore, the superoxide anion and the OH radicalgenerated by the photocatalyst reaction unit 114 can smoothly move tothe head part 120 through the inside of the toothbrush body 110 togetherwith the external inflow air flowing into the toothbrush body 110 alongthe air inflow opening 117.

The head part 120 is joined with the upper end part of the toothbrushbody 110 to be exchangeable, and includes a brush 121 used to brushteeth, and an air transfer unit 122 which is configured as one body withthe brush 121 and is exchangeably jointed with the upper end part of thetoothbrush body 110 to transfer the superoxide anion and the HO radical,transferred by the air pump 115, together with external inflow air tothe vicinity of the brush 121, and discharges the superoxide anion andthe HO radical together with the external inflow air.

Here, the brush 121 is configured in a form similar to or same as abrush constituting a general toothbrush. Further, an air flow path 122 athrough which air or the like can smoothly flow is formed inside the airtransfer unit 122, and a plurality of air discharge openings 122 bconnecting to the outside are formed at an end of the air flow path 122a. In this case, the plurality of air discharge openings 122 b areformed in the vicinity of the brush 121 and are configured to dischargethe superoxide anion and the OH radical together with the externalinflow air to an oral cavity while a user brushes the teeth.

The operation method of the photocatalyst brush using the AOP (advancedoxidation process) according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention configured as described above will be described below.

First, the operation switch 116 locating outside the toothbrush body 110is pushed. Then, a signal is transmitted to the circuit unit 112 tosupply power from the battery 111 to the light source unit 113 and theair pump 115, respectively. Then, the light source unit 113 irradiatesthe ray of the wavelength range (for example, a wavelength of 254 nm)for sterilization and the ray of the wavelength range (for example, awavelength of 184 nm) onto the photocatalyst reaction unit 114, wherebythe superoxide anion and the OH radical are generated inside thephotocatalyst reaction unit 114 by a photocatalyst action. The generatedsuperoxide anion and OH radical move to the head part 120 together withthe external inflow air flowing inside through the air inflow opening117 by the operation of the air pump 115. That is, the generatedsuperoxide anion and OH radical together with the external inflow airpasses through the air flow line of the inside of the toothbrush body110 and the air flow path 122 a of the air transfer unit 122 of the headpart 120 and are transferred into the oral cavity of the user throughthe plurality of air discharge openings 122 b.

While brushing the teeth, the superoxide anion and the OH radicaltransferred to the oral cavity as described above evenly spread into theoral cavity so as to be transferred to places which it is difficult toreach, and decomposes and removes organic substances, therebydecomposing viruses and bacteria causing tooth-decay. Therefore, notonly a tooth-decay prevention effect but also a clean oral-cavity statethrough plaque removal, whitening effect, bad-breath removal areprovided.

Meanwhile, in a photocatalyst brush using the AOP (advanced oxidationprocess) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,instead of the air pump 115 of FIGS. 1 and 2, an air transfer memberincluding a motor 118 and an impeller 119 as shown in FIG. 3 may beprovided on at least one side of the front end and the rear end of thephotocatalyst reaction unit 114, thereby capable of more smoothlydischarging the superoxide anion and OH radical generated by thephotocatalyst reaction unit 114 to the air discharge openings 122 b.

After use of the photocatalyst toothbrush 100 is completed, thephotocatalyst toothbrush 100 is washed. Then, the photocatalysttoothbrush 100 is mounted in a toothbrush holder 130 capable of justholding the head part 120 of the photocatalyst toothbrush 100 as shownin FIG. 4 with the head part 120 downward, and is operated during apredetermined time period, whereby the superoxide anion and the OHradical generated through the above-mentioned operation relation preventcontamination by external viruses and bacteria capable of acting theinside of the toothbrush holder 130 and the toothbrush bristles, so asto always maintain clearness.

First Experimental Example

The photocatalyst toothbrush provided according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention has the configuration described withreference to FIGS. 1 and 2. First, UV lamps having wavelengths of 254 nmand 184 nm was attached inside an aluminum pipe coated with aphotocatalyst, TiO2, serving as the photocatalyst reaction unit, therebymaking a preparation so that a photocatalyst action and the AOP can beperformed. Further, an air pump was provided in the upper part of thealuminum pipe provided as the photocatalyst reaction unit to facilitatedischarge of the superoxide anion and the OH radical generated insidethe photocatalyst reaction unit. Two disposable 1.5V AAA batteries wereconnected in series as a power supply, and a PCB having a micro computerand an inverter attached thereto was provided in the lower part of thealuminum pipe in order to facilitate the operations of the UV lamps andair pump. In order to prevent the air inflow and the flow of thegenerated superoxide anion and OH radical from being externallyinfluenced, the above-mentioned components were mounted inside a sealedstructure having a toothbrush form.

In order to check the sterilizing power of the photocatalyst toothbrushmanufactured in the above-mentioned method, an experiment using an E.coli group was conducted. The E. coli used for the experiment wasparceled out from Korean Cultural Center of Microorganisms and used, andTrypticase Soy Broth or Trypticase Soy Agar brought from BD Bioscienceswas used as a culture medium and a preservative medium. 0.1 ml aliquotsof the prepared bacterial culture medium were put in 1.5 ml microtubesso as to prepare an experimental group and a control group, and then thephotocatalyst toothbrush was fixed to be 0.5 cm high from the bacterialculture medium. Then, the photocatalyst toothbrush was operated during 3minutes and the number of E. coli was measured before and after theprocess, thereby checking the sterilizing power. The experiment wasconducted in the same manner three times and an average value wascalculated.

Table 1 shows experimental results of the sterilization experimentalusing E. coli according to the first experimental example. It can befound out from the experimental results that sterilizing power was 50%to 60% in 3 minutes and 70% to 80% in 5 minutes.

TABLE 1 NO 1 2 3 4 5 Sterilizing power 3 minutes 56 52.6 55.7 54.6 62(%) 5 minutes 80.4 78.0 71.8 73.2 79.5

Second Experimental Example

In order to check the organic-substance removal capability of aphotocatalyst toothbrush manufactured in the same method as the firstexperimental example, a decolorization experiment using a dye wasconducted. A blue series product manufactured by CIBA was used as thedye used for the experiment and was diluted with pure water 10000 timesso as to prepare the diluted solution.

The head part of the photocatalyst toothbrush was put in the prepareddiluted solution to facilitate transfer of the superoxide anion and theOH radical generated in the photocatalyst into the diluted solution.

The experiment was conducted by distinguishing the experimental groupand a control group having the same conditions as the experimental groupmanufactured in the above-mentioned method except that the inside of thephotocatalyst reaction unit is not coated with TiO2. The experiment wasconducted to until when all the diluted dye solution was decolorized andthe organic-substance removal capability was checked through the time tountil all the diluted dye solution was decolorized.

FIG. 5 is a photograph showing the experimental results of theorganic-substance removal capability using the dye according to thesecond experimental example. (a) of FIG. 5 shows the results of theexperiment using the experimental group, and it can be found out fromthe (a) of FIG. 5 that after one hour elapsed, all the diluted dyesolution was decolorized. (b) of FIG. 5 shows the results of theexperiment using the control group, and it can be found out from the (b)of FIG. 5 that after two hours elapsed, all the diluted dye solution wasdecolorized. It can be found out from the experimental results that thephotocatalyst toothbrush according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention adapting all of the photocatalyst action and the AOPexhibits excellent organic-substance removal capability as compared to acase in which at least one of the photocatalyst action and the AOP isnot adapted.

Although the technical features of the photocatalyst toothbrush usingthe AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention has been described with reference tothe accompanying drawings, they are used in a generic and descriptivesense only and not for purposes of limitation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications andvariations can be made in the present invention without deviating fromthe spirit or scope of the invention.

Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of aphotocatalyst toothbrush which fulfills all of the objects andadvantages sought therefor. As is evident from the foregoingdescription, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited bythe particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it istherefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, orequivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Manychanges, modifications, variations and other uses and applications ofthe present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled inthe art after considering the specification and the accompanyingdrawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses andapplications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limitedonly by the claims which follow.

1. A photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process)including: a head part having a brush used to brush a tooth, said headpart including an air transfer unit for discharging airflow received bythe head part to the outside of the toothbrush; and a toothbrush bodyconnected to said head part and capable of providing said airflow tosaid head part, said toothbrush body having an internal cavity and anexternal structure which a user can hold for brushing a tooth, saidtoothbrush body including: an air inflow opening formed on one side ofthe toothbrush body to be connected to the internal cavity, a batteryprovided in the internal cavity for supplying power, a light source unitfor receiving power from the battery, and for generating a first lightray having a first wavelength within a sterilization wavelength rangeand a second light ray of a second wavelength within an ozone generatingwavelength range, a photocatalyst reaction unit at least partiallysurrounding the light source unit and having a surface coated with aphotocatalyst, said photocatalyst reaction unit generating superoxideanion and OH radicals when said first and second light rays contact saidphotocatalyst, and an air transfer member for transferring to the headpart of the toothbrush the superoxide anion and OH radicals generated inthe photocatalyst reaction unit together with external airflow from theexternal inflow air opening.
 2. The photocatalyst toothbrush using anAOP (advanced oxidation process) according to claim 1, wherein the airtransfer member is an air pump.
 3. The photocatalyst toothbrush using anAOP (advanced oxidation process) according to claim 1, wherein the airtransfer member includes a motor and an impeller.
 4. The photocatalysttoothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to claim1, wherein the head part is attachable to and detachable from the upperend part of the toothbrush body.
 5. The photocatalyst toothbrush usingan AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to claim 4, wherein theair transfer unit includes an airflow path formed along the inside ofthe air transfer unit, and a plurality of air discharge openingsconnected to the outside at an end of the air flow path.
 6. Thephotocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process)according to claim 5, wherein the air inflow opening is formed in alower end part of the toothbrush body.
 7. The photocatalyst toothbrushusing an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to claim 6, whereinan air flow line through which air flows from a lower end part to anupper end part of the toothbrush body is formed inside the toothbrushbody, and the air flow line is connected to the air flow path.
 8. Thephotocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process)according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst coated on thephotocatalyst reaction unit is any one of ZnO, CdS, WO₃, SnO₃, ZrO₂,Cu₂O, CdSe, or TiO₂.
 9. The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP(advanced oxidation process) according to claim 1, wherein the lightsource unit is any one of the sun's light, black light, a fluorescentlamp, an LED lamp, or a UV lamp.
 10. The photocatalyst toothbrush usingan AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to claim 1, wherein thesterilization wavelength range is an ultraviolet wavelength range. 11.The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process)according to claim 10, wherein the ultraviolet wavelength range is 254nm.
 12. The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidationprocess) according to claim 11, wherein the ozone generation wavelengthrange is 184 nm.